Alastair Scott wrote:

>The last generalists were probably people like Helmholtz and Kelvin in
>the late 19th century, who contributed to a vast range of topics.

It's interesting you mentioned Lord Kelvin, nee William Thomson...  in
his book "Measuring Eternity: the Search For the Beginning of Time", by
Martin Gorst, the author demonstrated that Lord Kelvin labored under the
constraints of religion.  During LK's lifetime, discoveries were made
that indicated the Earth, Sun, the Universe were much, much more ancient
than the Bible would lead you to believe.  Lord Kelvin was a firm believer
in that dubious book, and as far as our solar system neighborhood was
concerned, it couldn't be all that old, because by his calculations based
on earthbound combustible materials, Old Sol was merely a fraction of
the age other scientists were claiming for it.  The Curies' experiments
with radium proved that a substance could give off heat for an indeterminant
period of time, but Kelvin would not have any of it.  So even seemingly
wide-ranging intellects can be held in bondage by old, discredited
"ideas".

Laurence Glavin
Methuen, Mass.